Secrets of the Qing Palace

As China’s last feudal dynasty, the Qing dynasty has no shortage of stories. The Aisin Gioro clan has ancient and mysterious legends. It is said that the bandit hero Nurhaci rose to power with just thirteen suits of armor and formed an unbreakable bond with a blue horse and a yellow dog. Hong Taiji rose above the other princes to claim the throne and shared a legendary love with Hai Lanzhu, a romance said to move heaven and earth. The Shunzhi Emperor loved a beautiful woman more than his empire. His love for Dong E Fei was so deep that after her death, he became a monk. The Kangxi Emperor captured Ao Bai through a clever scheme, crushed the rebellion of the vassal princes, and brought the empire under control, laying the foundations for a century of prosperity under Kangxi and Qianlong. In his later years, he twice deposed and reinstated the crown prince, setting the stage for the fierce struggle among his nine sons over the succession. The Yongzheng Emperor was dogged by accusations that he had usurped the throne, and the circumstances of his death remain a matter of debate. The Qianlong Emperor was known as the “Old Man of Ten Perfect Accomplishments,” but the truth of his origins remains an unsolved mystery. The Jiaqing Emperor accomplished just one major thing in his life: eliminating the enormously corrupt Heshen. The Daoguang Emperor had little to recommend him beyond his thrift. The Xianfeng Emperor lacked foresight, courage, ability, and accomplishment. He died at the Mountain Resort, leaving power in the hands of Cixi. The Tongzhi Emperor spent his time among women and died young. The cause of his death stirred up endless rumors. The Guangxu Emperor wanted to reform and strengthen the nation, but the times were against him, and he ultimately ended up imprisoned. His death was also entangled in a murder case. The Xuantong Emperor had been on the throne for only three years when he was forced to abdicate amid internal turmoil and foreign threats. Thus the twelve Qing emperors took their turns on history’s stage, each living out his life before taking his final bow.